Sky Zone eyes 300 park milestone in 2024 under new CEO

Indoor trampoline park chain Sky Zone plans to expand nationwide under the leadership of its new chief executive. 

Shawn Hassel joined Sky Zone in January 2023 as CFO, and took over as the acting CEO in September following the departure of Elizabeth Blair. He is also the co-founder and managing partner of Areté Capital Partners, an advisory and capital firm providing independent fiduciary and interim c-suite services to companies in various industries and specialties.

"I am deeply honored to continue serving Sky Zone," said Shawn Hassel. "It's a well-loved brand that genuinely believes our nation's young people need to Play Every Day in a time where screens and technology dominate their environment.”

Sky Zone currently operates over 270 locations nationwide, which provide young visitors a variety of trampoline activities.  Under Hassel's leadership, Sky Zone says it will accelerate franchise development and amplify its support of the franchise network, with expected totals of nearly 300 sites by the end of 2024.

In an email to Chain Store Age, Sky Zone said it is planning to open locations in Alhambra, Calif., Boynton Beach, Fla., Arlington Heights/Schaumberg and Lincoln Park, Ill., and Mountlake Terrace, Wash. in the near future, with many others in the pipeline. 

The company said it locates new sites through a combination of advanced analytics, along with a “great broker network,” to determine consumer demand, adding that the company leverages creativity to convert a closed grocery store, movie theater, or big box retailer available in the right trade area into a Sky Zone park.

“Sky Zone is operating from a position of strength, and I cannot think of a more enviable time to be a part of the company's continued future success,” said Hassel. “I look forward to partnering with our talented teams and franchisees to bring the power of play to many more communities in the coming years."